How does this medication work? What will it do for me?

Gliclazide modified release (MR) belongs to the class of medications called oral hypoglycemics. It is used for the control of blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes. It is used when diet, exercise, and weight reduction have not been found to control blood glucose well enough without medication. Gliclazide MR increases the amount of insulin released by the pancreas and helps the body use insulin more efficiently.

This medication may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms. Any specific brand name of this medication may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of this medication may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.

Your doctor may have suggested this medication for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles. If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking this medication, speak to your doctor. Do not stop taking this medication without consulting your doctor.

Do not give this medication to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do. It can be harmful for people to take this medication if their doctor has not prescribed it.

What form(s) does this medication come in?

How should I use this medication?

The recommended starting dose of gliclazide MR is 30 mg taken once daily at the same time every day. Your doctor will gradually increase the dose every 2 weeks to a maximum of 120 mg daily, depending on the reduction of your blood glucose. It is recommended that the medication be taken at breakfast time. Do not chew or crush the tablets. The 60 mg tablets can be split in half. The 30 mg tablets cannot be split in half and should be swallowed whole.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose, skip the missed dose and take your usual dose at the regular time the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store this medication at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Who should NOT take this medication?

Do not take gliclazide MR if you:

are allergic to gliclazide or any ingredients of the medication

are allergic to other sulfonylureas (such as glyburide) or sulfonamides (such as sulfamethoxazole)

are pregnant or breast-feeding

are taking some forms of miconazole (ask your doctor or pharmacist for details)

are experiencing physical stress such as serious infection, injury or surgery

have severe kidney or liver disease

have type 1 diabetes

have unstable diabetes or ketoacidosis (a high amount of ketones in your urine)

What side effects are possible with this medication?

Many medications can cause side effects. A side effect is an unwanted response to a medication when it is taken in normal doses. Side effects can be mild or severe, temporary or permanent.

The side effects listed below are not experienced by everyone who takes this medication. If you are concerned about side effects, discuss the risks and benefits of this medication with your doctor.

The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking this medication. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.

Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.

abdominal pain

back, muscle, or joint pain

constipation

diarrhea

dizziness

headache

nausea

vomiting

Although most of the side effects listed below don't happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.

Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:

Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:

chest pain or pressure and/or shortness of breath

seizures

signs of a serious allergic reaction (e.g., abdominal cramps, difficulty breathing, nausea and vomiting, or swelling of the face and throat)

signs of a severe skin reaction such as blistering, peeling, a rash covering a large area of the body, a rash that spreads quickly, or a rash combined with fever or discomfort

unconsciousness

Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.

Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?

Before you begin taking a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should take this medication.

Diabetes complications: Similar to other medications for diabetes, the use of gliclazide MR will not prevent the development of diabetes complications.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency: If you have G6PD-deficiency, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar): Gliclazide MR, like other sulfonylurea drugs, can cause symptoms of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) including dizziness, lack of energy, drowsiness, headache, and sweating. Weakness, nervousness, shakiness, and numbness or tingling have also been reported. Seniors, those with reduced liver or kidney function, and those who are fragile or malnourished are more likely to have low blood sugar when they take these medications. Low blood sugar is more likely to occur when food intake is inadequate or after strenuous or prolonged physical exercise. Blood glucose should be monitored regularly and emergency glucose (and glucagon kit) kept available in case the need arises to increase blood sugar levels.

Illness/stress: People on gliclazide MR therapy may experience loss of blood sugar control during illness or stressful situations, such as trauma or surgery. Under these conditions, the doctor may consider stopping the medication and prescribing insulin until the situation improves.

Kidney function: Kidney disease or reduced kidney function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Liver function: Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking this medication.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems such as fatigue, feeling unwell, loss of appetite, nausea, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, abdominal pain or swelling, and itchy skin, contact your doctor immediately.

Proper diet: The use of gliclazide MR must be considered as treatment in addition to proper diet and not as a substitute for diet.

Worsening of condition: Over a period of time, gliclazide MR may become less effective because of the worsening of diabetes. If gliclazide MR no longer controls blood glucose to target levels, it should be stopped and another medication added.

Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy as it may cause harm to the developing baby. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if gliclazide MR passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Breast-feeding women should not take gliclazide MR.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.

Seniors: Seniors may be more likely to experience side effects with this medication.

What other drugs could interact with this medication?

There may be an interaction between gliclazide MR and any of the following:

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

stop taking one of the medications,

change one of the medications to another,

change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or

leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.